-- When the national champion Ohio State Buckeyes kick off their 2003 campaign, fans will notice a lot of construction before reaching Ohio Stadium. Throughout the area, both on and off campus, motorists can expect delays and reduced parking availability. On campus, there are several buildings undergoing construction, renovation or replacement. Parking lots that usually accommodate football fans are filled with construction equipment, which consumes or reduces the space available for game parking.

"This year, more than ever, we are advising football fans to plan to spend additional time to reach the area and to park," says Beth Kelley, associate director for Transportation and Parking. "There are about 900 fewer parking spaces on central campus and, for most people, it is possible that the place you parked last year will be unavailable this year." A color-coded parking map is available at http://www.tp.ohio- state.edu/specialevents/football/footballparking.shtml

Public parking is available in any "day-of-game" lot at a charge of $10 per vehicle (no charge with an OSU permit). These parking lots include: Polo Field (limited space available), Ag campus lots, Fawcett Center, Woody Hayes Facility, Blankenship Hall, the Buckeye lots at the Schottenstein Center, and West Campus lots. Free bus service from West Campus begins three hours prior to kickoff and continues until one hour after the game. Campus garages available for day-of-game parking include the Ohio Union garage, Arps Hall garage, South Cannon garage, 9th Avenue garage, 11th Avenue garage and 12th Avenue garage.

At least two hours prior to game time, some streets on and around campus become one-way, going toward the stadium. After the game, traffic patterns will be reversed, going away from the stadium. Due to various construction projects on campus, it may be necessary to change these traffic patterns from game to game. Traffic control officers will direct people around construction detours.

-- > SEE: http://www.osu.edu/news_db/lvl2_news_story.php?id=545

Police to enforce alcohol laws on game days

-- In an effort to improve the safety and enjoyment of all who attend Buckeye football games, police will be enforcing state laws related to open containers of alcohol, underage drinking and public decency both on campus and on Lane Avenue. The move is the result of discussions between Ohio State and city of Columbus officials about the need to reduce the problems associated with the behavior of those who become publicly intoxicated before, during and after football games. In addition, the Task Force on Celebratory Riots, which President Holbrook and Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman established late last year, identified alcohol as one of the largest contributors to celebratory riots.

Vern Baisden, assistant vice president for public safety, said that, in recent years, the excessive consumption of alcohol on football Saturdays has contributed to an unsafe and sometimes threatening environment for fans and visitors to Columbus. "While the majority of the over 100,000 people who come to home games conduct themselves with dignity and class, a smaller group consumes excessive amounts of alcohol," he said. "These individuals then exhibit unruly and potentially dangerous behavior, and become a safety hazard to themselves and to others."

Baisden said teams of officers will focus on several problem areas where problems have occurred over the last several years: The Northwest/Tuttle Parking Garage, the Northwest Stadium Parking lot and the South Field House Parking Lot. Excessive alcohol consumption in those areas has fueled lewd behavior, public indecency and verbal abuse to others, among other actions, he said. "Our fans ought to be able to park in those areas without being subjected to this kind of behavior," Baisden said. Officers also will monitor the actions of people who are heading toward the stadium from Lane Avenue, where Columbus Police have jurisdiction.